progress: BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
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CHARLES CITY PRESS | WWW.CHARLESCITYPRESS.COM | FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2025
CHURASAN Japanese and Okinawan cui- sine became a year-round option in Charles City when Churasan opened a winter storefront on North Main Street. Owners Megumi Abbott and Bryant Estlund decided to fi nd a permanent indoor space to keep serving customers during the colder months while continuing to operate their food truck in the summer. Churasan is known for fresh sushi, Japanese fried chicken and Okinawan specialties. Instead of installing a full commercial kitchen inside the storefront, Abbott prepares food in the food truck then brings it into the store for pickup. This unique approach allows her to comply with state licensing rules while avoiding high renovation costs. Abbott, who started Chu- rasan after years of making and sharing her homemade Japanese dishes, runs the business with help from her parents, Ed and Reiko Abbott and a small staff. “Everything we make is fresh and we sell out regularly,” she said. Popular dishes include teriyaki chicken, pork belly bao buns and sushi rolls. “Charles City has always been great to us,” Abbott said. “We hope this storefront will help us reach even more people who en- joy authentic Japanese fl avors.” GINGER’S TOP SHELF Chef Julie Flood took her ca- tering business to the next level by opening Ginger’s Top Shelf in Floyd, taking over the former Dugan’s Restaurant building. The expansion provides a full commercial kitchen to support her growing catering demand and allows for limited dine-in service on select nights. Flood specializes in Cajun pastas, steaks, blackened salmon and house-made cheesecakes in- fused with high-end liquors. “I love experimenting with fl avors,” she said. “We use top- shelf alcohols in our sauces and desserts, giving them a unique depth.” The restaurant is open Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m., but reservations are recommended due to high de- mand. In addition to catering and special events, Ginger’s Top Shelf offers private dining ex- periences for groups of 20 to 82 people. “If you book an event with us and we provide the food and drinks, the space is free,” Flood said. The restaurant also serves high-end whiskeys and bourbons, including specialty smoked cocktails. Plans include wholesaling her cheesecakes to restaurants across the area, adding a Sunday brunch option and developing an outdoor dining space. “We’ve had incredible support from Floyd and the surround- ing communities,” Flood said. “Iowa Nice is real and I love be- ing part of it.” CHAMBER Continued from page C3
where more people can fi nd us,” David Prescott said. USDA SERVICE CENTER A long-awaited move took place when the USDA Service Center opened its new facility, consolidating the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Re- sources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) under one roof. The new space offers expand- ed of fi ces, a centralized custom- er service counter and improved fl ood protection, a major up- grade from its former location on Beck Street. FSA Manager Doug Lines oversees the administration of 36 to 40 programs, ranging from microloans and bin loans to feed grain safety nets and disaster re- lief programs. The new facility enables the FSA to work more ef fi ciently with other agencies to assist lo- cal farmers and landowners. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is one of the largest ini- tiatives, covering about 23,000 acres in Floyd County. The NRCS, led by District Conservationist Joshua Heims, focuses on cover crops, nutrient management and conservation practices. “We provide technical and cost-share opportunities for wetlands, terraces, stream bank stabilization and other land con- servation efforts,” Heims said. The Forestry Service, repre- sented by Anne Volker and Steve Heidebrink, offers tree manage- ment plans and urban forestry guidance, helping landowners navigate conservation programs. One of the biggest advantages of the move is the improved col- laboration between agencies. “We were in the same build- ing before, but now we are bet- ter connected and have a shared customer service counter,” Heidebrink said. The facility also offers meet- ing rooms and workspaces for fi eld employees, allowing for better service delivery across the four-county region.
Submitted photo Churasan owner Megumi Abbott cuts the ribbon of her business’s new carryout location at 709 North Main Street as the Chamber Ambassadors look on.
ing their services. Customers have responded positively to the new location, enjoying the improved layout and accessibility, Becker said, especially more convenient parking. Becker credits the success of the move to strong community support and client loyalty. The additional space has created a more comfortable environment for staff and customers. MARA BRIDAL Tiffany Rottinghaus relocat- ed her Mara Bridal boutique to Main Street, placing it next door to her women’s clothing store, Cardigan. The move signi fi cantly in- creased visibility and foot traf- fi c, drawing in customers who previously weren’t aware of the bridal shop’s existence. “A lot of people said they never knew there was a bridal store and now they do! It’s great. We’re super happy about it,” Rottinghaus said. “Now we have almost 5,000 square feet between the two stores, counting the mezzanine space, plus an incredible base-
ment storage area we didn’t have before,” Rottinghaus said. The extra space allows a larger inventory and additional fi tting areas, and the store now features a handicap-accessible dressing room and an expanded men’s department for grooms and groomsmen. Mara Bridal offers private bridal fi tting suites, where brides can try on dresses with family and friends in an intimate set- ting. To elevate the experience, the shop provides charcuterie and champagne service during fi ttings. The proximity to Cardigan en- ables cross-promotions between the two stores, enhancing both businesses’ customer reach. PRESCOTT AUCTION SERVICE Prescott Auction Service re- located to Main Street, bringing live, in-person auctions back to Charles City. Owners David and Luanne Prescott, along with their son Skyler Prescott and team mem- ber Kristie Tegtmeier, lead the family-run business, specializing in estate sales, consignments, fundraisers and bene fi t auctions.
Their new location offers bet- ter visibility and increased foot traf fi c, helping them reach a wider audience, they said. “We opened here in the fall after starting out in Floyd at the Community Center for quite a while, then we moved over to New Hampton for a year before coming back to Charles City,” David Prescott said. “This is now our main of fi ce.” The business now hosts live auctions every two weeks, either in-house or at off-site locations. One of the major advantages of the new space is the seating availability, making auctions more comfortable for attendees. The business does not charge fees to participate in auctions or place bids, ensuring accessibility for all buyers. The Prescotts serve a broad region, from Mason City to Fredericksburg and said they maintain competitive rates. They charge 30% on consignment sales and 40% for estate auc- tions, while conducting fundrais- ers and bene fi ts for free. “We’re proud to bring live auctions back to Charles City and we love being downtown
THE BEAUTIQUE Hannah Becker’s The Beau- tique moved to Clark Street last year, offering an expanded space for beauty services. The move from 208 N. Main, where the business had operated for almost six years, was driven by the need for more room to accommodate its growing client base. “We had gotten to where Lacy (Reams) and I both had picked up so much business that our space over there just really wasn’t working for us any- more,” Becker said. The transi- tion allowed them to add a third professional to provide esthetic services. The Beautique offers a range of beauty treatments, with Beck- er providing pedicures, mani- cures, haircuts, hair coloring and facial waxing. Reams specializes in nail ser- vices, while Joanna Gautier, the newest team member, focuses on esthetic work, including eyelash extensions, eyebrow tinting, fa- cials and microdermabrasion. Each specialist manages their own schedule and appointments, giving clients fl exibility in book-
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SEWING MACHINE SALES & REPAIR
We Sell Riccar Vacuums made in Missouri, and service what we sell. We service all brands of sewing machines and sell new Juki machines.
Interior Exterior
Spring Cleaning & Vaccum Sale
Kronlage & Olson, PC 117 North Jackson St. Charles City, IA 50616 (641) 228-5900 ext. 15 Fax (641) 228-1513 Larry Pump, CPA 117 North Jackson St. Charles City, IA 50616 (641) 257-4222 ext. 19 or (641) 228-2812
We sell notions, thread, vacuum bags, belts, ect. Free classes with the purchase of a new machine!
Entire Month of March FREE GIFT with Purchase of Vaccum
&ƌĞĞĞƐƟŵĂƚĞƐΘŝŶƐƵƌĞĚ 641-257-8018 CHARLES CITY & surrounding areas
Regular Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-6pm
Thur 9am-7pm; Sat 9am-Noon Tues by appt; Closed Sunday osed Sun
3440 Underwood Ave, Osage, IA 50461 • (641) 220-0438
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